John of the Woods eBook

XXVI

THE TALISMAN

John turned his head to see at what the King was staring.
There was a movement in the crowd. Men were
being elbowed forward. A noise of harsh voices
arose, and to the platform crowded three figures in
rags and tatters.

They forced their way directly in front of the platform,
and stood staring up. John stepped forward to
see what it meant, and in a moment fell back with
a cry of dismay. He was looking into the eyes
of Cecco, Tonio and the Giant!

“Hi! Master Gigi!” cried Tonio’s
hateful voice; “so here we find you setting
up as a tumbler on your own account. Your Majesty,”
he cried, appealing to the King, who was listening
with a wicked grin on his face, “this is our
boy. We own him. He ran away, but he belongs
to us. Give him to us again!”

The little Princess screamed and clung to the Hermit’s
arm; but he sat motionless, watching. The people
began to murmur and jostle the three strangers.
But the King raised his hand, and they listened to
him.

“We will hear these men,” he said.
Then, turning to John, he added smoothly, “And
after that, sirrah, you shall answer for yourself.”

The Hermit rose and took a step forward, still holding
the little Princess by the hand. Brutus broke
away from the page who held him, and crouched growling
at John’s side.

Then Tonio raised his voice, and cried louder, pointing
at John with his skinny hand. “He is our
boy,” he said. “We taught him his
trade; let him deny it. Now he is robbing us
of our fair dues. He is a runaway. Give
him back to us!”

Still John stared at him, too dazed to answer.
But the Hermit took another step forward, and said
sternly:—­

“He is your boy, you say. How did you
come by him?”

“We bought him for a gold piece,” they
said in chorus. “That was years ago.
For ten years he traveled with us. And then
he ran away. His life is ours; let him deny
it if he can!”

John stood silent, horrified at the fate which seemed
to confront him. For in those days children who
were bought and sold in this cruel way were the slaves
of the masters who had purchased them.

The Prince had fallen back, pale and trembling.
But the King now spoke again, gazing with malicious
eyes upon the two wood-folk whom he hated.

“What have you to say for yourselves?”
he asked. “You who do not deny that you
are a runaway; you, old man, who stole the lad and
must be punished most severely therefor, have you
any reason why I should not give the one of you up
to these mountebanks, his lawful masters, and the
other of you to punishment and death? Speak!”
The King’s voice was harsh and cruel.
His eyes glittered fiercely.

Still John was silent.

“Seize him!” commanded the King.
“Seize them both! Off with them to prison!”